Baltimore County, MD Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Baltimore County Code § 12-8-101(c) defines a "dangerous animal" purely by conduct: "an animal that has been declared by the Health Officer as posing a threat to the public health or safety," with no breed reference anywhere in the title. Section 12-8-102(a) sets four triggers: the animal attacks or injures a person or domestic animal; exhibits aggressive or dangerous behavior while not adequately confined or restrained; is known or suspected to have been exposed to rabies and is not adequately confined; or has already been under a confinement/restraint order that was not followed.

The Health Officer's declaration can rest on personal observation, animal-control records, bite or non-bite contact reports to police, or sworn citizen affidavits. Within 10 days of declaring an animal dangerous, § 12-8-102(c) requires the Health Officer to notify the owner and advise of the right to appeal; the Health Officer may in the meantime impound the animal, order it surrendered to Animal Services or police, or release it to the owner under a spay/neuter order. If the owner appeals within 5 days under § 12-8-102(e), the Animal Hearing Board holds a hearing within 25 days under § 12-8-103, and can order confinement measures, mandatory licensing and rabies compliance, fee payment, warning signage, spay/neuter, removal from the county, or euthanasia. Any owner aggrieved by the Board's order may further appeal to the Board of Appeals under § 12-8-104.